Mound City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Oath of Officer for Mayor and City Council Members
Public Concerns Regarding Orono Police Department Services
Orono Police Department December 2024 Activity Report
Votes (6)
Consent Agenda Item C: Resolution for the Acting Mayor of 2025
Moved by Kathy McGeeney/Council Member [~] · Seconded by Kevin Castellano/Council Member [~]
Council Member McGeeney questioned the criteria for selecting the Acting Mayor, noting the absence of formal guidelines and the Mayor's explanation that it was based on a good working relationship, particularly from shared budget committee service. There was discussion about establishing clearer criteria for such appointments.
Consent Agenda Item L: Resolution Expressing Support for CDBG Funding for Senior Community Services
Moved by Kathy McGeeney/Council Member [~] · Seconded by Michelle Herick/Council Member [~]
Council Member McGeeney sought clarification on the services Senior Community Services (SCS) provides to Mound, given their historical affiliation with the Gillespie Center (which they no longer manage). The council wanted to understand what specific services SCS offers to justify continued CDBG funding support from the city. Staff acknowledged the resolution was standard but agreed clarification was needed.
Consent Agenda Item R: Appointment of Sherry Wallace to the Planning Commission
Moved by Kathy McGeeney/Council Member [~] · Seconded by Michelle Herick/Council Member [~]
Council Member McGeeney raised concerns about the process, specifically that there was only one candidate (Sherry Wallace) for two open Planning Commission positions, limiting the council's ability to choose among multiple applicants. The discussion emphasized the need for new policy directives or adjustments to working rules to ensure a more robust candidate pool for all commission appointments in the future, despite acknowledging that Ms. Wallace was a suitable candidate. The City Manager noted the process had been re-advertised once already.
Receive Final Plans and Authorize Bidding for Water Treatment Infrastructure Improvements Phase 1 (City Project PW 25-12)
Moved by Michelle Herick/Council Member [~] · Seconded by Kevin Castellano/Council Member [~]
City Engineer Matt Balman presented the final plans for Phase 1 of water treatment infrastructure improvements, focusing on up-sizing water mains along Cypress Lane to Chateau Lane due to the impending decommissioning of a well and coordination with County Road 15 projects. The project involves pipe bursting and open-cut replacement, requiring temporary closure of two intersections for approximately two weeks. The estimated cost is $1.19 million, part of a larger state award, crucial for ensuring adequate water flow to the treatment plant.
Receive Engineering Study and Authorize Final Plans and Bidding for County Road 15 Sidewalk Improvements (Projects PW 2508 and PW 2509)
Moved by Kevin Castellano/Council Member [~] · Seconded by Kathy McGeeney/Council Member [~]
City Engineer Matt Balman presented a feasibility study for sidewalk improvements on County Road 15, strategically timed with Hennepin County's mill and overlay project, which will impose a 5-year moratorium on further road digging. The project is split into three funding portions: city-only, joint city/county cost-share, and 100% county-funded ADA improvements. The city's estimated cost is $526,000, to be funded via bond proceeds and municipal state aid. The aggressive schedule aims for construction completion by late June 2025 to accommodate the county's work.
Edgewater Park Native Plan Garden Expansion
Dissent: Kathy McGeeney/Council Member [~] (opposed)
Moved by Cathy Pew/Council Member [~] · Seconded by Kevin Castellano/Council Member [~]
Deputy City Manager Maggie Rorff and resident Tyler Piper presented a proposal to expand a native plant garden at Edgewater Park, highlighting benefits for endangered bees, Harrison Bay's water quality (an impaired body), and park beautification. The project relies on a Hennepin County Good Steward Grant, with the city contributing up to $1,750 (partially in-kind staff time). Council members raised resident concerns about the aesthetics of native gardens at certain times of the year and potential long-term maintenance costs for the city, particularly if Piper's volunteer commitment changes. Discussions also touched on the park's future use and the implications of a 5-year grant commitment versus potential park re-evaluation or sale.
Notable Quotes (12)
well I'm asking for this year CU I asked you the same question two years ago you uh but it wasn't in here it was out there oh okay um yeah I don't know I mean that's a good question um you know council member uh calano and I we serve on the um budget committee you know have a good relationship I mean I have a good relationship with all you guys I would imagine but um I don't know I just thought he would be a good uh person to you know step in so there's really no criteria except your buddies
my question on L is the um the senior community services is an excellent organization uh my understanding was that they ex their their involvement in Mound was through the glesby center they are no longer doing the glesby center are they providing other Senior Services to Mound as to why we're supporting their cdbg
my objection to this is something that has never happened before that any of us could think of in recent memory and that's that there was literally one candidate applying for two positions so I was questioning how do we want to handle this because we're not given any choice in the matter to choose a candidate that best fits um in this case the Planning Commission and but it has nothing do with this person's candidate I just the process needs to be adjusted
I think we need to look at these working rules they can come as a commission and make a recommendation but we probably need to look at this for all of the commissions and make sure we have a standard process and practice across all so that it's even and fair
this is just one piece of it we're going to upssize that water main um along this Corridor here and the reason we are here with this one first is um with pending County projects on counter on casassa 15 we want to get this done as quickly as possible
so right now there's a well at this Tower and in order for us to do the the treatment plant over on the other site this well is going to eventually be decommissioned and so we we need to UPS the main so that things flow smoothly back and forth between the towers whereas now it's it's pumped in right at that Tower eventually won't be able to do that so we got to provide a little more capacity in the mains to get it in there to keep everything blowing
the city's been completing County Road sidewalk peace meal Improvement since 20 2021... but you know we alerted the county in 2023 that you know a big chunk of that roadway was um Beyond just what we feel is the city responsibility
they reiterated they would like us done by the end of June if possible so that they can get in shortly after that
the park commission decided that it might be a good Park to do a kind of a unique project yet because um they decided it it is a little bit more difficult to kind of put a playground there or other Park features and so they thought this would be a good um good location to to discuss expanding
Harrison Bay has been designated as an impaired Body Source so that was a big aspect of my application... we have a chance to do something like that and it's it is unique cuz they're insects and so you don't have to save an entire Lake you can save small portions and give them little places to thrive
I think your um layout looks really nice but I'm in agreement that maybe there have been a few people that have called in and said at certain times of year the sustainable flower plots can look pretty bad have you given any thought to how you could um address that
I just want to make sure that the city understands that this is is a long-term commitment and I mean we're spending money taxpayers dollars are we going to get the benefit out of it and are we going to be able to maintain it in the future because that grant money I don't know if there's anywhere else we might want to use that
Ordinances & Resolutions (21)
Official appointment of council members to various city committees and commissions.
Designates the Deputy City Manager to serve as Acting City Manager when the City Manager is unavailable.
Official appointment of a Field Officer to assume duties as Assistant Weed Inspector.
Identifies the official financial institutions for city funds for the year.
Designates the local newspaper for official city publications.
Approval of a commercial kennel license, with a fee waiver.
Official decision regarding liability insurance limits.
Approval for continued CDBG funding to a community action network.
Resolution of support for federal funding for senior services (pulled for discussion).
Approval of the meeting date and location for property assessment review.
Reappointment of a commissioner to the Parks and Open Spaces Commission.
Reappointment of the city representative to the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District.
Reappointment of a commissioner to the DCC (Design Review Committee or similar).
Approval of a joint meeting date for council and planning commission.
Approval of an exemption for a property subdivision.
Official designation of the Acting Mayor for the year (pulled for discussion).
Recommendation for appointment to the Planning Commission (pulled for discussion).
Water Treatment Infrastructure Improvements Phase 1 project.
Project for sidewalk replacement and ADA improvements on County Road 15.
Proposed project for expanding a native plant garden.
Grant sought for the Edgewater Park Native Plan Garden Expansion.